In our second edition of the Sonoma County Notebook we take a look at the 7-team Sonoma County League, comprised of Division III and IV enrollment schools.
Analy still has the talent to dominate
Three-time defending champion Analy-Sebastopol (11-2, 6-0 SCL) lost a ton of talent to graduation, including the Sonoma County League Player of the Year, the Co-Back of the Year, the Lineman of the Year, seven First Team selections, plus one Second Team and one Honorable Mention choice.
Despite losing so many players that carried Analy on a solid three-year run, what’s scary for opponents once again this year is what the Tigers return.
The top returner is linebacker Isaac Kangas. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior was a First Team Defense selection last season. The consensus amongst area coaches is he is the top retuning defensive player in the league. Tough, physical, nose for the football and solid tackler were expressions used to describe Kangas. Last season he led the team with 108 tackles and three sacks, plus he had two interceptions and blocked a field goal.
Another top returner on defense is Second Team Defense Angelo Muniz. The senior linebacker had two sacks and 44 tackles last season.
“Our linebacking corps all returns. They’ll be the strength of the team,” Analy Coach Dan Bourdon said.
The top weapon back on offense is three-year varsity player Schuyler Van Weele. The 6-foot, 180-pound senior was a Second Team pick as the No. 3 wide receiver last season when he caught 32 passes for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Van Weele will also start at cornerback where last season he had two interceptions and 23 tackles.
Three Honorable Mention selections are back, senior wide receiver Lucas Housman, senior defensive back James Raftery, and junior offensive lineman Andrew Fossell.
A big reason for the success of Analy is it took a little time for bright, young eight-year coach Bourdon to re-vitalize the program and develop players. In his first three years at the Analy helm, Bourdon guided the Tigers to a 17-17 record overall and 5-13 record in league. In 2011 they improved to 3-3 in league and 6-5 overall, however, it wasn’t until 2012 when Casa Grande-Petaluma and Windsor were switched to the North Bay League, and replaced by previous NBL members Elsie Allen-Santa Rosa and Piner-Santa Rosa, that Analy began to dominate the league.
Since 2012 Analy has gone 34-5 overall and 18-0 in league with three SCL crowns. With last season’s explosive offense the Tigers made it to the CIF North Coast Section Division III semifinals before losing to eventual CIF Division III Bowl Game champion Campolindo-Moraga, 62-46 in a scoreboard lighter-upper. In the three playoff games Analy scored 179 points.
“We lost eight offensive starters and we’re young and not tested, and I’ve heard good stuff about Petaluma, but this is our biggest roster ever, 45-50 guys, so if all the pieces come together I like our chances,” was the final analysis of Bourdon.
Petaluma looking solid
Bourdon is correct when he says good things are happening six blocks up the street from my pad in West Petaluma.
In fact, Petaluma (7-4, 4-2) was in the game all the way and scored more points than any local team did against Analy, in a 34-23 loss that ended last season’s league play.
Last year also marked the first winning season but a third 4-2 league record in the five years since Petaluma Coach Rick Krist took the helm from legendary Redwood Empire Coach Steve Ellison.
The Trojans lose the SCL Co-Back of the Year, the Specialist of the Year and league’s top kicker, a First Team and two Second Team Offense selections, two First Team and two Second Team Defense picks, and one Honorable Mention choice. They do however, have eight players returning that achieved all league status.
The top returners are both senior three-year varsity players, quarterback Brendan White and defensive lineman Travis Plank. Both were First Team on offense and defense last year, respectively, with Plank playing on the O-line as well.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound White looked bigger, stronger, and his arm strength, accuracy and footwork looked improved at a 7-on-7 earlier this summer. In the run-oriented offense of Krist the dual-threat quarterback passed for 560 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 516 yards and six more scores.
“The biggest thing about Brendan is he’s really working at it and putting in the time to get to the next level,” Krist remarked. “We’ve been a running team in the past but this year with Brendan we’re going to throw the ball a little more.”
The 6-foot, 230-pound Plank has bulked up but although he’s not a prototype D-lineman one local coach called him “a strong, solid player with a high football IQ.”
“Travis is a bit undersized in the traditional tackle position but besides all those coaches comments being correct he’s a freakishly strong kid that’s perfect for football. He’s our lineman coming back that will be our anchor,” Krist said.
Two Second Team Offense senior players returning are two-way offensive lineman Ben Upton and the coach’s son, Robert Krist, a 6-foot, 210-pound tight end that also plays defensive end.
“Coaching my son is great. He loves football, but he knows he’s going to get the brunt of my frustration and I’m going to be hard on him. No special treatment,” Krist said.
A Second Team Defense returner is linebacker Tyler Williams. Two Honorable Mention choices return, senior RB/LB Lucas Dentoni, and senior defensive back Eamon McMahon.
Krist has taken the Trojans to the NCS playoffs three times in five years, but each time they have lost in the first round. The question this year is not just if Petaluma will challenge Analy for the SCL title, but if Krist can help get them further in the playoffs.
“As far as overall talent I would say it’s the best team I’ve had, and definitely a talented senior class,” Krist remarked. “The key is how the team develops and if they gradually get better, beginning with our first game against Windsor.”
El Molino-Forestville (6-5, 4-2) was the third team in the league with a winning record.
The Lions and Coach of the Year Randy Parmeter have a First Team Offense and Defense returner in small but solid 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior two-way lineman Leo Garza. Another First Team Defense selection returning is senior linebacker Ryan Fernandez. He also received Honorable Mention as an offensive lineman.
Piner (5-6, 3-3) would look to be in a re-building year with only two Honorable Mention selections returning, senior 6-foot-2, 230-pound offensive lineman Ronnie Cummings, and senior defensive back Satidit Phaikeo.
Sonoma Valley-Sonoma (3-7, 3-3) didn’t have a win outside of the league last year but they did have a 13-5 victory over Petaluma. Their top returner is senior Max Yankovich. Last year he saw action at quarterback and wide receiver but its likely Coach Bob Midgely will have him as the starting signal-caller this season.
Healdsburg (1-9, 1-5) had a rough year in 2014 but according to local coaches they have a solid returning Second Team Defense senior duo in Cody Newman and Bryant Herrguth. Newman is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound lineman, and Herrguth is a 5-10, 195-pound linebacker.
Elsie Allen (0-10, 0-6) has not won a game since September 2013. They had a newly hired coach resign in the spring and are looking for a fresh start, and positive direction and some inspiration from new coach Bill Wight.
